Even though I oppose the flag desecration amendment, I'm no fan of flag burning. That's why I find this "celebration of the First Amendment" to be distasteful and disrespectful.

About 25 revelers celebrated their freedom of speech and welcomed the Fourth of July on Monday night with the "2nd Annual Old Time American Flag Burn."

Around a burn barrel at Seabright State Beach, organizer Brent Adams, 41, of Santa Cruz, declared flag burning not a protest, but a celebration of the Constitution's First Amendment.

"It seemed like a good idea to burn some flags just because we can," added fellow organizer Sha Lar, 32, of Santa Cruz.

Burning a flag just because you can is simply an exercise in juvenile narcissism.